Knife Making Question

[Arsenul]

This seems stupid to ask but when I look for the type of knife metal to make a knife, what do I search? The thing I searched was 52100 metal. Is there a specific term for it?

 

[fsatsil]

there are dozens of different steels that make a good knife. What kind of knife are you planning to make? You will likely get more/better answers over in the General Knifemakers forum.

 

[Arsenul]

Something I can pass down in the family. I've heard that 52100 is a amazing metal, I just don't know what to search to find it online.

 

[Bob W]

521000 is easily found online at industrial supply companies.

Oddly, I checked the two best known knife making suppliers, and neither of them sell it.

 

[Arsenul]

521000 is often used for forging, and is easily found online at industrial supply companies.

Oddly, I checked the two best known knife making suppliers, and neither of them sell it.

Can you link those suppliers for me?

 

[Bob W]

I may have been wrong/confused about the forging, so edited my post.

I can't link directly to suppliers, a bladeforums rule. But here's the google search:

https://www.google.com/search?q=52100+knife+steel&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=52100+knife+steel&tbm=shop

 

[bdmicarta]

521000 is easily found

52100 not 521000.
It is not an uncommon steel in custom knives so shouldn't be impossible to find.
Depending on what you want there are a lot of other common steels that are used in custom knives these days.